Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 9 March, endorsed the Recommendations to Full Council on the latest timescale for the preparation of the Council's Local Plan documents.

The District Council has published its updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) for March 2026, setting out the timetable for preparing key planning policy documents that will shape the District's future development up to 2050.

The LDS outlines when each stage of the Council's Local Plan documents will be prepared, consulted on and adopted. Keeping the scheme up to date is a legal requirement and ensures communities, developers and stakeholders have clear information about how and when they can engage with the planning process.

The revised LDS also confirms the latest programme for preparing the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) - a joint plan with Warwick District Council that will replace Stratford-on-Avon's Core Strategy 2011-2031.  

The next major milestone will be the Publication (Regulation 19) consultation in June 2026, with submission for examination scheduled for December 2026.

As part of the recommendations is the withdrawal of the Site Allocation Plan (SAP) from the LDS once the SWLP Publication consultation begins.  

Extensive review work has confirmed that the forthcoming SWLP will sufficiently cover the key content previously proposed for the SAP, removing the need for a separate document and avoiding duplication.  

The withdrawal also reflects changes in planning circumstances, including the District's reduced five-year housing land supply in autumn 2025, which has limited the weight that can be given to the draft SAP in planning decisions.      

Councillor George Cowcher, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said: "This revised Local Development Scheme gives our communities and stakeholders a clear and reliable timetable for how the District's future planning framework will take shape.  

"By aligning our programme with the joint South Warwickshire Local Plan and looking to withdrawing the now duplicate Site Allocations Plan, we are ensuring that our resources are used efficiently and that residents can have confidence in a transparent, legally robust process.

"This is a positive and proactive step forward for sustainable growth across Stratford-on-Avon District."  

To support sustainable growth and ensure appropriate infrastructure is delivered, the District Council will also review its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) alongside the SWLP. Consultation on a draft revised Charging Schedule is planned for later this year, with anticipated adoption in March 2028, subject to examination.

Local Plans must be prepared in accordance with an up-to-date LDS to ensure they can meet national legal and procedural requirements. The updated timetable reduces risk at examination and provides greater certainty for residents, developers and local communities.

Key benefits of the updated LDS include:

• A clear and legally compliant timetable for Local Plan preparation.
• Increased transparency for communities and stakeholders.
• Better alignment with Government deadlines for plans submitted under the current system (December 2026).
• Efficient use of Council resources by removing duplication between the SAP and the SWLP.
• Continued support for strategic objectives such as affordable housing, climate action, economic growth and sustainable development.

Subject to Full Council approval on Monday 20 April, the revised Local Development Scheme will come into effect on 20 April 2026, in accordance with Section 15(7) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).